Chapter 8 - Four Years Earlier
The room exploded.
Charles denied everything.
Marco was brought in for questioning the next morning.
This time, he talked.
Four years earlier, Elena had worked as a supervisor for a cleaning contractor hired by Cross Industrial.
She had accidentally found documents in a conference room after a board meeting.
Documents showing Charles quietly moving company contracts toward businesses controlled by his friends.
Elena hadn’t understood the significance.
But Charles had seen her carrying the folder to Damian’s office.
He panicked.
Marco had gambling debts.
Charles found him.
Paid them.
Then offered more.
Leave Elena.
Convince her to take the housekeeping position at Damian’s estate when it opened.
Keep her away from corporate offices.
Elena stared at Marco through the interrogation-room glass.
“You sold our marriage?”
Marco looked down.
“I was drowning.”
“You sold me.”
“I thought it would be temporary.”
“Mia was one year old.”
“I know.”
“You never called.”
Marco cried.
Elena didn’t.
Not until she got outside.
Then her body simply stopped cooperating.
She sat on the courthouse steps.
Damian sat beside her.
No cameras.
No staff.
No billionaire posture.
Just a man beside a woman whose past had been rewritten in one morning.
“I feel stupid.”
Elena whispered.
“You weren’t.”
“I spent two years wondering what was wrong with me.”
Damian looked at her.
“Nothing.”
She laughed bitterly.
“You don’t know that.”
“I know enough.”
Their eyes met.
Something passed between them.
Something neither was ready to touch.
So Elena looked away.
“What happens now?”
“Charles faces the board.”
“And Vanessa?”
“Fraud investigation.”
Elena exhaled.
“It’s over?”
Damian didn’t answer.
His phone rang.
Owen.
Damian listened.
Then stood.
“What?”
Elena asked.
He looked toward the courthouse doors.
“Mia’s nanny called.”
Elena’s blood froze.
“What happened?”
“Mia’s missing.”
The world disappeared.
They drove back to the estate at terrifying speed.
The nanny was crying.
“I turned around for maybe thirty seconds.”
“She was in the playroom.”
“Then the side door was open.”
Security footage showed Mia walking across the rear garden.
Alone.
Then a black SUV appeared beyond the employee gate.
It stopped.
Someone stepped out.
The camera angle hid the face.
Mia walked toward the person.
Elena grabbed Damian’s arm.
“Who is that?”
Owen zoomed in.
The person turned slightly.
Elena recognized him first.
May you like
“Marco.”
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